Burning Plasma Diagnostics: An International Conference Varenna, Italy 24 - 28 September 2007

ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a joint venture between Europe, Japan, Russia, USA, China, India and South Korea) will need to measure a wide range of plasma parameters in order to reach and sustain high levels of fusion power and provide input to control systems with adequate reliability and long-term stability. The conference was the first appointment of the diagnostic community after the approval of ITER, and was therefore an opportunity to review the status of ITER diagnostics with particular reference to the capabilities of the present proposed systems to meet the requirements on the measurements. Critical issues related with the measurements of fast particles, fusion products, plasma facing components and radiation effects were addressed as well as new areas of diagnostic developments related with DEMO, the next step fusion reactor that will deliver electrical power from fusion.